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UNrrED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

ALBERT WV. HALE, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

FASTENING FOR HOOPED SKIRTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,260, dated August 30, 1859.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALBERT l/V. HALE, o thecity and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved HoopConnection for Skirt and other Hoops or Circles lVhere Detachable Fastenings are Desirable; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof and of its construction andmode or manner of operation, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a partof this specification.

Figure l is a representation of a cap or fastening before attached tothe hoop. Fig. 2 shows the end of a hoop prepared to be connected withits cap or fastenings. Fig. 3 is a view of the two ends of a hoop withthe fastenings attached in position to be connected together. Fig. 4 isa view of the hoops when connected together.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing such a fasteningthat the ends of hoops or circles can be easily connected together, andwhen so connected will be held sufliciently tight so that they will notbe separated without quite considerable pressure or strain, and which atthe same time permits quick and easy separation, whenever necessary ordesired.

To each end of the hoop or circle B, is clasped or fastened a smallpartly hollow cap or fastening A, into each of which the other entersand by which it is held. One of these is attached to the outside of thehoop, at one end, and the other so fixed to the inside of the other endof the hoop, so that when the two ends of the hoop are brought together,as shown in Fig. 4, each will slide or pass into the hollow cavity ofthe other. Such cap or fastening A, struck up or swaged or so made thatin one side there shall be a cavity or open space a, of a size justsufficient to receive the part or end b, Fig. 3, after the cap orfastening is clasped around or fastened to the hoop B. Vithin the cap A,when so formed, the hoop B, is placed, as representedby the dotted linesin Fig. 3, and the edges of such cap are then clasped upon or fastenedto the hoop, and uniting the two, as shown in the saine ligure. The endsof the hoop are generally curved or bent by proper dies into an ogeeform, as shown in Fig. 2, before or at the time the cap A is claspedabout it.

In order also to cause the ends of the hoops to be more firmly heldtogether the cap A, is clasped or fastened to the hoop, only at one endof such fastening or cap, as at c, Fig. 3, while the other end isloosely clasped around the hoop, so as to keep thc hoop in position, butat the same time allow to it longitudinal movement wit-hin such cap. Aswill be apparent from this manner of att-aching the fastening to thehoop, and as the curve of the hoop, as indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 3, lies near or against the side a. of the fastening or cap A, whenthe end o, is inserted and pressed into such cap, it will press down thehoop, as shown in Fig. 4, and pass by it, and the curve or spring of thehoop will press the end b, closely against the side a, of the cap. Theho'op B being firmly clasped by only one end of the cap A, it, the hoop,can be easily pressed down by the insertion of the end l), and it willalso for the same reason, spring back, and more tightly press againstsuch part b, when inserted in the cap.

The ogee form of the hoop, and the peculiar manner of fastening the hoopat but one end of the cap A is not however absolutely essential to theholding the ends of the hoops together. If the hoop is not struck up orbent with dies but is left in its natural form, and the cap A is so madeas to size, as to justpermit the end to be inserted, and pressed betweenthe hoop and the side u, the ends will be held together. The firstdescribed manner of fastening isl however preferred.

lVhat I claim as my invention and de sire to secure by Letters PatentisrIhe method of connecting and fastening the ends of the hoop B, bymeans of the caps A, one part of such cap with the end of the hoop,forming a point or extension b, to enter a recess a, in the cap on theother end of the hoop, and such cap. also furnishing the recess toreceive the said point or extension of the other end of the hoop, whenthe hoop and cap are bent in the manner and for the purpose described.

ALBERT WV. HALE.

Witnesses:

S. D. LAW, E. F. BARNES.

